The Better Solution for 'Pre-Existing Conditions'

There's no need to turn the entire system upside down to help the people who can't buy private insurance.

By

John C. Goodman

Updated Oct. 17, 2012 12:23 am ET

Do you remember the debates over the Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare? Now that repeal of the law has become a major campaign issue, it may be helpful to remember why Congress passed it in the first place.

Early in 2010, as the climactic votes neared, a parade of the legislation's defenders—from the House, Senate and Obama administration—appeared across the media. All had the same message: pre-existing conditions. They named the names of families "victimized" by companies that had refused to sell them insurance,...